Wind instrument



Dec. 16, 1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June30, 1959 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1'9. 31 IN VEN TOR: $2,

Dec. I6, .1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 50, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec.16,1947.

C. F. W. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT 7 Sheets-Shae?- 5 Original Filed June30, 1939 I u U IN V EN TOR:

1947. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 49 WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 30, 1339'T Sheets-Sheet 4 c. F. w. FORSSBERG Re. 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT I Original Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ran/blaIN V EN TOR.

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Dec. 16, 1947. 3. F. w. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 6Original Filed June so, 1939 N... H I mar e:

IIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 225 T {F1 L INVENTOR.

Dec. 16, 1947. I c. F. w. FORSSBERG 22,949

WIND INSTRUMENT Original Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ReissuedDec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND INSTRUMENT Carl F. W.Forssberg, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original No. 2,373,110, dated April 10, 1945, Serial N0. 282,221, filedJune 30, 1939.

Application for reissue filed April 10, 1946, Serial No.-

Claims.

, tubes, etc., in its construction by including special covered channelsor grooves constituting sound ducts or passages in at least one memberor even in two or more members forming main portions of the structure ofthe instrument.

Another obiect is to produce an instrument of the mentioned characterfrom molded material such as plastics or die castings of metal in orderto simplify construction and greatly reduce cost of manufacture and thusfacilitate marketing the instrument at such a low figure as to encouragegeneral use in large quantities.

A further object is to make an instrument of this type of at least onechannel or body member or even two main channel members and a rigidlyassociated or intermediate sandwich structure, sheet or member, whichwhen assembled by cementing or riveting or even soldering or weldingtogether will at once form the main body of the instrument to which amouthpiece may be added to complete the simplest embodiment which may betaken to correspond to a bugle.

Yet another object is to do away with slides for fine tuning and insteadhave a, simple, partly rotatable or slidable adjusting valve which iscapable of fine adjustments.

It is also an object to have the instrument pro vided with valves forplaying in all desirable keys so that it may take its proper place withthe comet, trumpet, fiuegelhorn, trombone and alto horn, etc.

It is even an ob ect to do away altogether with exposed tubular slidesfor changing the key of the instrument from F to G or vice versa in theembodiment corresponding to the bugle, and from A to Bb, and/or, from Bbto C, etc., in the form corresponding to the trumpet or cornet, byhaving a novel form f key changing mouthpiece which is arranged tocooperate with one or more fixed loops of tubing or sound ducts orpassages in the air column in order to cut in or cut out said loops atwill.

It should be mentioned that it is an object wlthal to arrange the soundducts or passages and double them on themselves or each other andotherwise condense the entire construction and all dimensions of theinstrument as well as to lighten the same without sacrificing pitch,volume, tone or overtones in such fashion that an exceedingly compact,portable and attractive as Well as effective wind instrument results,which if made of the modern plastics, may have any one of a, large rangeof colors and finishes.

Other objects and numerous advantages of the present instrument andaccruing from its nature, construction and practical use will appearmore fully in detail as this specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention and itsvarious features, the same is illustrated by way of non-limitingexamples in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in whichFig. 1 is an elevation of a form of my instrument which may beconsidered as corresponding in pitch, tone and volume to an army bugleand embodying certain main principles of my inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same instrument.

Fig. 4.illustrates one of the main channel or body members of theinstrument of Figs 1-3 prior to assembling, with a portion of the upperend and a mouthpiece in section.

Fig. 5 shows an opposite or corresponding main channel or body member ofthe same instrument.

Fig. 6 illustrates in partial perspective an intermediate member orsandwich sheet or plate intended to be secured between the twocorresponding main channel members of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 'l-'! in Fig. 1.

Fig, 8 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of Fig. 4, showing themouthpiece in altered position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs.1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.

Fig. 10 is another view of the same as seen from the bottom.

Fig. 11 is a further side elevation of the enlarged mouthpiece.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view of valve detail. I

Fig. 16 is a section of Fig. 15 taken on line iii-I6.

Fig. 17 shows a valve key of Figs. 12, 15 and 16 in perspective.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of the'upper portion of a modification ofthe instrument of Figs. 12, 15 and 16 with a portion broken away todisclose the interior construction of a tuning valve.

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the tuning valve in a differentposition of adjustment.

Fig. 20 is a section of Fig. 18 taken on line 2020.

Fig. 21 is a partial section taken a little lower in Fig. 18 than Fig.20 and shows substantially a side elevation of the tuning valve of Figs.18, 19 and 20 as taken on line 2l2l in Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the same tuning valve with the shaft andcontrol knob cut off and the interior walls indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of the instrumentof Fig. 1, showing a modificatio'n.

Fig. 24 is a vertical section of Fig. 23, but avoiding any section ofthe mouthpiece.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged side elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs.23 and 24.

Figs. 26 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 27 is a modification of the mouthpiece of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a modification in transverse section of the body of theinstrument as shown in section in Fig. 7, the general plan andappearance of the instrument being exteriorly about the same as shown inFig. 1, While the section is taken approximately on line l-'| Fig. 29 isanother modification similarly shown in section.

Fig. 30 is a further modification of a similar form in section.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of an intermediatemember or sandwich sheet of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is yet another modification in section of the instrument,similar to the section shown in Fig. 30.

Fig. 33 illustrates a simpler form or modification of the instrument ofFig. 1.

Fig. 34 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 35 illustrates a simple bugle or horn of the ordinary type with animportant feature of my invention shown in section and combined withsaid bugle.

Fig. 36 is a partial side elevation of the same.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary view of the bugle showing the mentioned featurein full from the same point of view as in Fig. 35.

Fig. 38 is a vertical section of a modification of the upper part of theinstrument of Figsl and 2, as seen from the same point of view asFig. 2.

Fig. 39 is a further modification of the body of the instrument shown ina transverse section similar to that of Figs. 7 and 28.

Fig. 40 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of the instrumentshowing a modification of Fig. 12.

Fig. 40a is a perspective view of a rear part of Fig. 40.

Fig. 41 is a transverse section of the same taken on line 4l4| in Fig.40.

Fig. 42 isavertical section also of the same taken on line 42-42 in Fig.40.

Fig. 43 is a fragmentary view of the lower part of a channel member ofthe body of the instrument showing how the same may be modifiedthroughout to include air spaces which are not connected to the main airchannel but are independent thereof.

Fig. 44 is a transverse section of the instrument as taken on line 44-44in Fig. 43.

Fig. 45 is a fragmentaryperspective of the intermediate member orsandwich sheet which may be used with the channel member of Fig. 43.

Fig. 46 is a transverse section of the instrument taken on line 45-46 inFig. 33, but showing a further modification of the construction.

Fig. 47 illustrates a modification of the instrument of Fig. 12.

Fig. 48 is the upper fragment of one of the channel members of saidinstrument, while Fig. 49 is the upper portion of the other channelmember, the mouthpiece being omitted better to reveal the construction.

Fig. 50 shows the mouthpiece of the same instrument, while Fig. 51 is aplan view of a tuning valve of the instrument of Fig. 47.

Fig. 52 is a section of part of a modified instrument as taken on line52, 52 in Fig. 53, and illustrates a slide for tuning.

Fig. 53 is a transverse section of the instrument of Fig. 52 on line 53,53 in Fig. 52.

Fig. 54 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the instrument ofFig. 47.

Fig. 55 is a front elevation of a modification or simplification of theinstrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 56 is a side elevation'of the same.

Fig. 57 illustrates a channel member of the same instrument.

Fig. 58 shows an opposite corresponding channel member of saidinstrument.

Fig. 59 is a front elevation of another modification of the instrumentof Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 60 shows one channel member of the instrument of Fig. 59, and Fig.61 illustrates the correspondingly opposite channel member, while Fig.62 is a perspective view of a sandwich plate for the same instrument.

Finally, Fig. 63 is a fragmentary section as seen in perspective, of afurther modification of the construction of the body portion of theinstrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the sameorlike parts.

Arrong the brass wind instruments used in musical organizations such asbands and orchestras as well as in military organizations, and also forsolo work. etc., it is noteworthy that no radical changes have beenintroduced for quite a long time. All of these instruments occupyconsiderable space and require more or less large and bulky carryingcases or covers, but judged by the cubical content of their air columns,could well be reduced in size. In case a player is near sighted or haspoor eyes. and uses a stand for his music, the length and actual size ofthe instrument used may prevent a sufiiciently near approach to themusic to see well. It is also quite obvious that such brass instrumentsconsist mainly of tubing whichis bent at several points and also hasseveral joints which require to-be soldered or brazed, and themanufacture thereof requires great skill, much fitting. adjustment andfinishing, worth from ten to fifty or m'ore'times the actual value ofthe material of which the instruments are made. The necessity forpolishing such instruments and carefully cleaning and taking care ofthem,-'and their very high'pri'ce, as a rule, militate against generaladoption and use and also prevents many talented people from learning toplay upon them and even from learning music for this reason.

Now, in order to avoid all such disadvantages and particularly with theforegoing and other objects in mind, the present invention has beendesigned to fill a place of its own and reatly encourage the study andplaying of good music.

Hence, in the practice of my "invention, an instrument body, generallyindicated at I has a mouth piece 2 which is removably inserted and shownalone in Figs. 9, nd 11 in enlarged form. A pair of oppositely extendingprojections 3, 3 are fixed upon the mouthpiece, while upon the upperportion of the instrument proper are a pair of opposite side horns orprojections 4, 4, so that if an elastic member 5 is caught beneath theprojections 4, 4 and passed over the mouthpiece projections 3, 3, saidmember will tend to hold the mouthpiece down in position and retain thesame against accidental loss.

Before going into further detail in regard to the mouthpiece and itspossible modifications, it is perhaps better to direct attention to themain feature of the invention which refers to the general constructionof the body of the instrument. The instrument proper is preferablycomposed of three main members, namely, two opposed outer members, whichmay for convenience be termed channel or body members 6 and 1, whosemain walls 8A and 83 respectively form the rear and front walls of theinstrument body I and connect with the external side walls 6A and IA(Figs. 1, 2 and 3), and an intermediate partition member or sandwichplate 8. The body or channel member 6 has a plurality of channels orgrooves 9, ll, l2, l4, l6, ll, 22, etc., separated by a series ofmutually spaced separating walls 9A (Fig. 4), and the other body orchannel member I has corresponding grooves or channels Ill, I3, l5, I8,etc., similarly separated by a series of spaced separating walls 93(Fig. 5). The separating walls 9A in body member 6 extend to, andconnect with side walls GB and 13 thereof to limit the length of thechannels or spaces between the separating walls. In similar fashion,separating walls 913 in body member I extend to, and connect with sidewalls 6C and 10 of said body member. In reference to the partition meansor sandwich plate 8 as shown in Fig. 6 has a pluraiity of marginal holesalong the two sides at 25, 21, 29 and 3|, etc., and 26, 28, 30 and 32,etc., which connect the outer ends of channels 9 and II in member 6 withchannel II) in member I, the higher end of channel I3 in member 'I withthe outer end of channel [2 in member 6, the lower end of channel l3 inmember 'I with the higher end of channel [4 in member 6, and so on downto channel I! in member 6 which connects at its lower end throughaperture 3| in the sandwich plate with the upper end of channel IS inmember I. The lower end of channel [8 connects through aperture 32 withchannel 22 in member 6, and this channel enlarges into a half bell 23which is open to and connects directly with the correspondingly oppositehalf bell portion 24 in member 1 through the open slot 33 in the lowerend of the sandwich sheet 8 to form the bell 36.

It should be noted that the sandwich sheet or plate 8 is preferably flatin the form of the instrument disclosed in Figs. 1 through 8, as well asin other forms also shown, and the corresponding surfaces 34 and 35 ofchannel members 6 and I are intended to be correspondingly flat so as tomake contact entirely about the majority of the channels with thesandwich sheet through its general extent. It should likewise be notedthat the main intermediate area 36 of the sandwich sheet serves to coverthe channels 9-I'I of the channel members so as to convert them into conduits or the equivalents of tubes, while the marginal apertures in saidsandwich sheet or plate serve to connect one end of a channel in onechannel member on one side of the sandwich sheet to one end of anotherchannel in the other channel member on the other side of said sheet orplate. The channels are so arranged in the two members on the oppositesides of the plate 8 that if the instrument stands upright, drainage forwater of condensation will tend to occur by gravity.

The two channel members and the sandwich sheet or plate are preferablymade of plastic material such as any modern or known plastic that can begiven a definite form by a mold or die, examples of such being thecellulose derivatives, phenol urea and phenol formaldehyde products,vinyl resins, etc., ebonit or shellac compositions, polymerizedderivatives of methacrylic acid., etc., or said members may be made ofany kind of die cast metal or alloy. In case plastic material is used,the members may be cemented or fused together by means of a suitablesolvent or a solution of the plastic used, but in case die castings areused for the channel members a metal sheet can be used for the sandwichplate and these members screwed, soldered, brazed, fused or rivetedtogether, as may be most suited to the particular material used. Iprefer to use a plastic, as it is convenient merely to apply a solventor a plastic cement to the fiat general surfaces 34 and 35 of bothmembers and to both sides of the sandwich plate, and then bring the twomembers together with said plate between, when it will shortly be foundthat these members are firmly united into a single inseparable unit. Thetone varies somewhat according to the metal or plastic used, but mainlydepends on the form of the channel section and the length of thechannel. A handle 3! may be added to the instrument together with thethumb piece 38, the opening 39 serving to accommodate the fingers whenthe instrument is in use, so that it will be convenient to hold thewhole in horizontal position.

Referring again to the mouthpiece 2, the shank 40 is rectangular incross section (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11) and has a main conduit orchannel 4| which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, connects with the inner endof channel H in channel member 6, while a short arcuate channel 42 inthe lower portion of the shank on the other side serves to connect theinner ends of channels 9 and 12 in the same channel member. In thisposition the mouthpiece may be used to direct a sound through channel IIand by way of plate aperture 26 through channel IE] and thence throughplate aperture 25 through channel 9 and through mouthpiece bottomchannel 42 into channel l2, and thence through the remaining plateapertures and successive channels in both channel members. Naturally,the tones produced will be pitched according to the total length of theair column of the instrument, and if the latter is intended tocorrespond to a bugle, the same may be pitched at F. The mouthpiece isreplaceable so as to change the pitch to G, for example, and to effectthis change, it is but necessary to lift said mouthpiece out of theinstrument and, after turning the same one half turn without invertingit, to replace the same in the instrument so as to occupy the relativelyreversed position'illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the main channel 4|connects directly with channel 12 instead of with channel I I, whil theshank 453 forms a complete cutoff for channel 9 and the lower shankchannel 42 cuts off channel H by being itself directed against theinterior wall of the mouthpiece socket43, the result being that the twostationary channels '9 and H and the longer channel ID connected theretothrough plate apertures 25 and 26 are entirely blind and cut out of theair column so as to be inactive. As the air column is then shorter, thepitch will be higher.

In the figures thus far described, the shank 40 of the mouthpiece memberlies against the sandwich sheet or plate 3 upon one side and is in factlocated wholly upon that side of said plate in the socket or enlargement44 of channel member 6, and is retained in the socket by the elastic 5.However, as shown in Fig. 38, the shank can be disposed directly againstthe channel member 45 (which corresponds to member 1), extending throughthe sandwich sheet 4'8 (which corresponds to plate 8), while the socket41 of channel member 48 (corresponding to socket 44 on member 6)projects less than said socket 44 as a consequence, which is the mainadvantage gained. The same construction may be incorporated in the moreelaborate valved instrument generally indicated at 49 in Figs, 12, 13and 14, although the construction can also be like that of Figs. 1through 8.

In Fig. 12, one of the. channels 55 leading from the mouthpiece 2 in onechannel member before reaching the lower end channels 53 and the bell,has a passage 5| which may be interrupted and lengthened by a pluralityof valves 55, which are controlled by manual keys or levers 55, 56,etc., by which said valves may be individually depressed.

These valves are practically the same in form and construction, so thata description of one describes them all, but each controls a differentlength of channel loop, the first valve controlling a medium channelloop 51, the second valve a smaller loop 58 and the third a much longerloop 59, so as to provide for any and all half tones in the chromaticscale. The passage 54 is'blocked when a valve 55 is depressed by a lever56 as in Figs. 15 and 16, but then, when the lower edge of the valvemember 55 comes into contact with the bottom wall of passage 54, theupper curved sides 59 and 65 are spaced from the fixed curved sides ofupper valve seats GI and 62 so as to present curved passages up to theapertures 63 and 64 in the sandwich plate 65 (Fig. 16) which connectdirectly with the ends of channel loop 51 in channel member 52. Eachvalve has an open area 66 in which a rigid spring support 61 fixed uponthe sandwich plate may be located for the purpose of supporting aresilient member 58 tending to raise the upper portion 69 of the Valveso that said valve will normally occupy the upper raised position inoperating space 19 in Fig. 15 so as to take against seats 6i and 62 andleave passage 54 clear. The lever or key 56 is provided upon its innerend with a fulcrum head H lying in a recess 12 in channel member 52, thelever passing through a slot 13 the sandwich plate 65 and having anoperating pin M of valve 55 passing through an elongated aperture orslot 15 so as to allow arcuate rising and falling movements of the leverto occur without binding when operating the valve.

' In order to cover each valve when assembling the same, a somewhatflexible cover plate 15 having a clearance opening or slot (not shown)for the valve key or lever 55, a pair of undercut gibs I1, 18holding'said plate in place. Said plate may be set into position bysliding the same upward over a bottom stop 19 and under the overhangingportions of the gibs l1, 18 until the upper end of the plate meets upperstop 80, when the lower end will snap into position above said bottomstop 19 and remain between the gibs and stops. Of course, other meansoccurring to anyone skilled in the art may be used to hold the coverplates for the valves in place and the covers need not be flexible, incontrast with those shown, and in fact, even the exact type or detail ofthe valves disclosed need not be used. It is also possible, and evenfeasible to use difierent plastic material for the valves than for thesandwich plate, valve cover plate and channel member, or even a metal oralloy, without essentially changing the shape of the parts involved andthe plastic material may be so selected as to have antifrictioncharacteristics with respect. to the material of which said channelmember is composed. The main features'thus considered in connection withFigs. 12 through 1'! refer to the valves and channel loops controlledthereby for playing in any key desired.

It is frequently desirable to be in a position-to slightly sharpen orlower the pitch of the instrument by less than a full note and in finegradations, and means for this are shown in Figs. 18 through 22. Figs.18 and 19 illustrate a modification of the upper end of the instrumentof Figs. 12 to 14 just described, a portion being removed to disclosethe interior structure and a special adjusting or tuning valve 8|controlled by a knob 82 and capable of partial rotation in a valvechamber 83 from one extreme position against a stop 84 in Fig. 18 toanother extreme position against the other side of the same stop. Thevalve membcr 8| operates against the arcuate wall 85 of channel member86 of the instrument and has itself an arcuate wall 81 spaced from thefixed wall 85 and operating against an arcuate wall 88 of less diameterthan, and forming a continuation of wall 85, so that a channel loop 89is formed. This channel loop connects through apertures 96, 9| in thesandwich plate 92 with channels 93 and 94 communicating with the generalchannel system of the instrument as a whole. The solid connection of thewall 85 with the wall 83 above aperture 9| determines the connection ofone end of the channel loop 89 with said aperture, while the other endis determined by a fixed terminal block 95 secured upon the sandwichplate above aperture in said plate, the result being that upon rotationof the tuning valve 8| from one extremeto the other, thechannel loop isgradually shortened so that the pitch of the instrument gradually rises.The apertures remain fixed, but the looped end of the channelloopapproaches or recedes from said apertures in accordance with thedirection of rotation, and When the instrument has been tuned to a localpiano or band including other instruments, the tuning valve is left inwhatever its attained position may be, and the instrument played byfingering the other valves in the same manner as upon a comet ortrumpet. A cover plate 96 for the adjusting valve may be riveted,screwed or cemented in place.

While only one form of mouthpiece and shank have been considered thusfar, other preferable forms may be used which are centrally andsymmetrically disposed instead of being offset as in Figs. 2 and 3. forexample. Hence, in Figs. 23 through 26 are shown a fragment of the upperportion of an instrument with modified mouthpiece and shank as well asmodified channels to cooperate therewith.

The channel member 91 of Figs. 23 and 24 has the short channels 98. 99wh ch cooperate with the mouthpiece shanks, connected by rear channel Iin channel member 91 which is raised so as to pass the rear of the shanktransversely, while the shank IOI itself has a part of the transverseportion of said rear channel cut into the same as a groove I02 in orderto avoid increasing the cross section of the instrument-at that point.The channel or duct port ons I03 and I04 connect w th channels 98 and 99in the position shown, but when the mouthpiece I05 is sim ly rotatedtoward the right until duct I03 registers wth channel I06 of the generalchannel system of the instrument, the groove I02 on shank IOI no longerregisters with channel I00 and he shank itself blocks channels 98 and99. A'slight modification of the mouthpiece is shown in Fig. 27 havingthe same type of shank. groove and duct portions, but the mouthpiece I01has a ring I08 resting upon a flange I09 and provided with side studs II0, I I0 adapted to be engaged by an elastic or the like in order tohold the mouthpiece as a whole down in place while allowing the same tobe rotated for pitch changing, the ring remaining stationary withoutrotation meanwhile.

The body of the instrument is susceptible to modification, as will bemore fully developed herein. For example, in the section of Fig. 28 thetwo channel members II I and H2 are shown as completely enveloping theedges or periphery of the sandwich plate II3 so that the recesses H4, H5at the sides are used instead of marginal apertures or perforations asin plate 8 of Fig. 6. The partitions II6 etc., between the channelssupport the sandwich plate in position, but the plate is then whollycontained with said channel members.

Another form is shown in Fig. 29 wherein the channel members H1, H8contain a sandwich plate I I9 which is so narrow as to be spaced fromthe side walls of the channel members and is wholly supported betweenand suspended in position by the partitions I20 and I2I which of courseextend to said side walls of the channel members. In Fig. 30, a form ofconstruction is shown in which not only the channel members I22 and I23have the rounded channels and intermediate partitions I24, I25, etc.,but also the sandwich plate I26 has correspondingly rounded partitionportions I21, I28, said sandwich plate being thus more than a fiat,simple plate and instead forming a channeled structure of some thicknessas shown in fragmentary perspective in Fig. 31.

Along similar lines of design is the modification shown in Fig. 32. thetwo channel members I29, I30 having a sandwich plate I3I between themand being en arged toward the side edges at I32, I33 and I34, etc.. sothat the sandwich plate is thickened toward the sides I35, I36 tocorrespond in sectional profile with said channel members.

In connection with modifications of the structure of the channelmembers, it may be pointed out that the whole ensemble of the instrumentbody may be assembled in somewhat different manner that alreadydescribed. Hence, the channel members I36 and I31 of the instrumentshown in Figs. 33 and 34 with an intermediate sandwich plate I38 mayterminate at the bottom at a line I39 at which a bell I40 i attached orcemented in place, while at the top, a simple mouthpiece I4I which mayhave a shank I42 is inserted or secured. The pitch changing channels andfeatures of instrument and mouthpiece may be omitted, if desired and thelatter may simply connect directly with the main channel I43 of fixedpitch. Of course, the pitch changing features of the instruments ofFigs. 1-5, 18-23, etc., may be incorporated, if so desired when thusadding the bell as a unit.

On the other hand, the pitch changing feature alone i susceptible ofapplication as such in appropriate form to existing types of brass windinstruments such as bugles, cornets, trumpets and horns as exemplifiedby the horn I44 in Figs. 35 and 36. To the stem I45 of the horn isattached a tube I46 which is connected to the bottom of a casing I41, toanother portion of the bottom of which is connected one end I48 of alooped tube I49, while the other end I50 of said tube is connected tothe lower part of one side of the same casing. This casing virtuallyforms a valve casing and contains the semi-rotary shank I5I of amouthpiece I52, this shank having a channel I53 communicating with theinterior of the mouthpiece at the upper end and at the lower endcommunicating either with left end I48 of the looped tube I49, or withthe tube I46, depending on the position of the shank I5I. (See also Fig.37 for an alternate position of said shank.) In the lower portion ofthis shank is a bypass channel I54 which connects the end I50 of loopertube I49 with tube I46 when shank channel I53 connects with the left endI48 of said looped tube. A finger piece I55 upon the channel isdisplaceable in the cutout portion I56 in casing I41 and facilitatesmanual rotation of the mouthpiece and shank for changing the pitch.

Various other modifications of the body of the instrument are possible,but a few more hav ing particular advantages and falling within thescope of the invention will be discused. In Figs. 30 to 32, forms of thesandwich plate were shown which were not simply fiat plates but actuallyrecessed or channelled, or shaped to some extent and in each case ofsome considerable thickness, but in Fig. 39, a form is illustrated inwhich the portion corresponding to the sandwich plate forms the mainframe of the instrument body I 51 in which the partition I58, forexample forms an integral portion of said frame and the apertures I59,I60 pierce the interior portion I0! of said frame. The outer plates I62.I53 are set into or onto the sides and serve to enclose the channelsI64, I65, etc., and finish ofi the sides of the instrument.

Another form particularly involving an advantageous arrangement of themouthpiece and its related channels is shown in Figs. 40 to 42, therebeing, for example, two channel members IE6, IE5! and a sandwich plateI68, while the mouth piece IE9 has a shank I10 centrally andsymmetrically disposed with respect to the sandwich plate and channelmembers. This shank has the main channel I1I which in the position shownconnects with the instrument channel I12 and the short bypass channelI13 connecting the two instrument channels I14 and I15 which in turnconnect with the rear instrument'channel I16. forming with channels I12and I14 the pitch changing loop capable of being cut in or out byrotating the mouthpiece one-half revolution in either direction, Themouthpiece or its shank may be provided with a finger piece as in Figs.35-37, if desired. In order to allow for the molding of rear channelI16, the back of the same is left open, and then whenthe instrument isassembled, a strip I11 of plastic or metal also shown in Fig. 40a iscemented or otherwise secured in place to enclose the channel.

It may be desirable in some cases to include blind chambers to serve asresonance chambers in order to favorably affect the timbre and tone ofthe sounds produced by the instrument, and a form of the instrumentembodying such construetion is shown at least partly in Figs. 43 to 45but suifi'cien-tly to show how such chambers maybe incorporated atvarious points of the structure; The channel members I18 and I19 areprovided with the sandwich plate I89 (Fig. 44) but in those portions notusually occupied by any sound channels IBI for example, resonancechambers or hollow portions I82, I83 which may extend as open areas I84,I85 through the sandwich plate I80 and continue in channel member I13 aschambers I86", I81, or the sandwich plate can be solid and form apartition separating chambers I82 and I83 from chambers I84, I85, ifdesired.

While it has already been stated that the chan-- nel members andsandwich plate may be made of plastic material or of die cast metal, butthey'can' also be stamped from sheet metal as shown in section in Fig.46. The two stamped metal channel members I89 and I89 may be soldered orbrazed to a sheet metal sandwich plate I99, or may be secured thereto bymeans of rivets I9I, I9I, etc., or'inany other practical manner, and themetal used may be sheet iron, steel, copper, brass, German silver,silver, gold or any alloy.

The valved instrument of Figs. 12 to 16 may have a tuning valve added tothe same as shown in Figs. 18 to 21, or of any other type, as shown inFigs, 47, 48, 51 and 54, and the mouthpiece and its related channels maybe modified and rotatable for pitch adjustment, if desired. Thinstrument generally indicated by I92 has the finger pieces 56, 56,etc., controlling valves as in said former figures, while the channelI92 leading to and controlled by said valves, may be tuned by a valveI93 by means of a finger piece or head I94. The valve may. convenientlybe housed in the rear channel member I95 in a recess I96 in which it mayrotate part of a revolution in order to slightly lengthen or shorten theair column distance between apertures I91 and I98 connecting withchannels I92 and I 99. The valve has an arcuate partition 29D and a bentchannel connecting in all positions with channel 292 because partition260 glides along fixed partition 203 and thus virtually forms acontinuation of the latter in extended position and also increases theeffective length of channel 292, thereby lowering the tone. The valve ispreferably located wholly upon one side of the sandwich plate 224, butmay, if desired, extend through the same and ride upon the flat insideportion or fac of channel member 205.

While in Figs. 18 and 19 the apertures 99 and 9| would seem necessary tomake valve 8I opera-- tive, the valve I93 can operate directly withchannels upon the same side of the sandwich plate, if desired, eventhough shown operating to and from apertures I91 and IE8, and I reservesuch structure as part of the present disclosure.

Turning our attention to the mouthpiece 205, the same is preferablyprovided with a finger piece 201 upon its shank 298 shiftable in therecess- 299 to partly rotate the mouthpiece.

I95. Channel 2I2 again connects through the sandwich plate with theshort channel 2I-3 in member I95, and this in turn connects through thebypass channel 214 in shank 208 with chan-- nel 2 I5 in member 295, andthis forms the actual operating channel of the instrument" continuingthrough channels 2H5, I99 and I92, etc., down to the bell 2I1.. Thisdeep or long form of shank and channel arrangement improves moisturedrainage.

An alternative to the turning valves 81 and I93 of Figs. 18-21 and Figs.47, 48 and 51, respec"-- tively', is shown by a tuning slide 218 inFigs. 52

and 53, which" may take the formoi a V-shaped' member or box with twohollow legs 2 I9 and 229- slidabl'e in. a channel 22 I bygmeans of afinger piece 222.

The channel member 223 preferably has a can tral partition 224 in thechannel- 221 which is straddled by the legs 229 and 239 sothat noopening results between them in the channel member even when the turningslide 2 I 8' is drawn far out to the position indicated at 225; Thechannel 229 in the slide connects through the apertures 221, 223' thesandwich plate 229 with the channels 239 etc., in the channel member231- It is clearly evident that when the tuning slide is drawn out intoa more or less extended position, the air column is lengthened and thepitch lowered in accordance with the degree of extension, and if theslide is pushed in toward apertures 221 and 228, the air column isshortened and the pitch correspondingly raised.

In the remaining figures of the drawings, namely, Figs. 55 through 63',three further forms ofthe fundamental construction of the instru=- mentbody are shown. In Figs. 55 to 58 is shown aform in which the instrumentbody indicated at 266 has a front wall 261 and a rear wall 268 joiningopposite side walls 269' and 21B of the body, while the two channelmembers 232, 233iformi'ng the body portion of the instrument havea'simple mouthpiece 234 connected to the upper ends of the respectivelycorresponding channels 235, 236, but are devoid of any sandwich plate toform a partition for the channels. The channel or body member 232contains separating walls 21 I- extending from side wall 212 thereoftoward, but short of'juncti'on with the opposite side wall 213, andbetween the mentioned separat-- ing wallsthe further separating walls214 extending from side wall 213 toward, but terminating short of actualjunction with side wall 212, so as to form between said walls thesinuous channel or passage 235. In similar fashion, the body or channelmember 233 has the alternately arranged separating Walls 215 and 216,respectively extending from side walls 211 and 218 in alternation andterminating short of junction with the walls toward which they extend,thus forming passage 236 When the two body mem-- bers 232 and 233 aresuperposed as shown in Figs. 55 and 56, the mentioned sinuous channels235 and 236 complement each other and form a complete sound duct. Hence,said channels are simply doubled upon themselves in the same generalplane which either coincides with the cleavage plane of the two channelmembers or is par tion shows that the channel 243m channel mem-,

ber 24I connects with the mouthpiece and in order to centraly nteet thesame penetrates the sandwich plate 242 at 244 and has 9, correspondingshort channel portion 245 in channel member 240. Said channel 243 isdoubled upon itself in channel member 24! and terminates in said memberat 245 where the end registers with the aperture 24'! in the sandwich orpartition plate 242. This aperture registers upon the other side of theplate with the end 248 of the ascending channel 249 which in the mainportion of member is doubled upon itself so as to form convolutions 250and finally terminate in the flaring opening 25l wrich extends throughthe open portion 252 in the partition plate and together with theflaring portion 253 of member 24! forms the interior of the bell 254 ofthe instrument. In this form, the number of apertures in the sandwichplate is greatly reduced, which is an advantage for some purposes.

Finally, in the form illustrated in Fig. 63, two outer channel members255, 255 have an intermediate or third channel member 251 disposedbetween them with two sandwich or partition plates 258, 259 interleavedbetween the outer and intermediate members, a mouthpiece 265 being ofcourse included. The channel 26! of the first member 255, for example,thus connects through an aperture 262m plate 258 with the channel 263 inintermediate member 251, and this channel in turn connects through anaperture 264 in the second plate 259 with the channel 255 in bottommember 256. The channels may also follow some other course orarrangement in the channel members when three such members are usedtogether with one or more interleaved plates. It is evident that thetuning and/or playing valves may be combined with all forms.

While the front and rear walls of the instrument body have been shownpractically flat and smooth, this is of no actual importance for thesuccessful operation of the instrument, as these walls may, if desiredat least partly follow in form and contour the form of the soundpassages within, and the same holds for the side walls. In any event,the front and rear walls are preferably wider than the side walls and inthe form of instrument using the partition or sandwich plate, the latteris also wide and at least partly co-extensive with the front and rearwalls. The terms, front. rear and side walls merely refer to the outsidewall structure bounding the interior of the instriunent body, whateverbe the actual surface form of these walls.

In the foregoing, my instrument has been shown capable of variation asto some features, the body channel members being always present and atleast one, and often two in number or may be even three or more, whilethe partition plate or structure may have few (at least one) or manymarginal apertures, while the construction may include other types oftuning valves or slides, or other manual playing valves than thosedescribed, not to mention that the mouthpiece may be simple and more orless conventional, or may be of special construction and combined withpitch changing channels in the instrument when desired.

Hence, variations within wide limits may be resorted to, and parts maybe used without others or in difierent combinations therewith and ofdifferent plastics and metals, so as to result in various instrumentswithin the scope of the invention as a broad basis of construction.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. An instrument body for a wind instrument, including an elongated bodymember having wide front and rear walls and relatively narrower sidewalls connected to the front and rear walls, said walls extending alongthe length of the instrument body and together bounding the interiorthereof, a wide partition member located within said instrument bodyintermediate said front and rear walls and being coextensive with themajor portions thereof along their length and width. a series ofseparating walls located within said instrument body between saidpartition member and said front wall and integral with the latter, and asecond series of separating walls also located within said instrumentbody between the same partition member and said rear wall and integralwith the latter, the separating walls in both series being spaced apartalong said partition member and secured thereto, with the individualseparating walls disposed transversely with respect to the length ofsaid instrument body and secured at their ends to said side walls, theends of the separating walls of each series at one side of the latterbeing advanced a step toward one end of the instrument body with respectto the ends of the series on the other side of the partition member todispose both series together in the form of a flattened helix, and thepartition member terminating short of the side walls between theseparating walls of both series to form the spaces between theseparating walls into a continuous air column sound duct ofsubstantially flattened helical form.

An instrument body for a wind instrument according to claim 1, whereinthe partition member is plate like and disposed in substantially asingle plane.

3. An instrument body according to claim 1, wherein the partition memberis connected at the side portions thereof to the side walls of the instrument body and is pierced by series of apertures within said sidewalls providing intercommunication between the ends of the spaces ofboth series of separating walls on both sides of said partition member.

4. An instrument body according to claim 1, wherein the separating wallsin each series are generally inclined toward one end of the instrumentbody with respect to the separating walls of the other series, in orderto cause gravity drainage of water of condensation from the instrumentbody when it is erected upright with said end thereof directeddownwards.

5. An instrument body according to claim 1, having two coextensivepartition members spaced apart and a third or intermediate series ofseparating walls secured between them, these separating walls beingindividually disposed transversely with respect to the length of theinstrument body and having the ends thereof connected with the sidewalls of the latter, the separating walls of the three series beingsuperposed to form superposed groups of walls, the outermost sep- 15'arating wall of one group immediatelyinside the front wall terminatingshort of junction with one side wall and the innermost separating wallof the next adjacent group inside the rear wall terminating short ofjunction with the other side wall, the one partition member nearerthefront wall having an opening formed within said other side wallbetween the two groups of separating walls, and the other partitionmember nearer the rear wall having an opening formed between the sametwo groups of walls within the first mentioned one side wall, in orderto form all the spaces between the groups of separating Walls, of thethree series into a continuous air column sound duct communicatingforward through the spaces between one pair of mutually; adjacentgroups, of separating walls toward the front wall REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,320,202 Thompson May 25,1943 52,320,203 Thompson May 25, 1943 15 FOREIGN PATENTS;

Number- Country Date 388,091, France Mar. 22, 1908:

and then rearwardthrough the spaces between, one of said last mentionedgroups of walls andv thenext adjacent group toward the-rear wall. CARLF. WM, FORSSBERG.

